A dad has told of the agony of living with a broken shoulder – for 19 years.

Mark Robinson suffered the injury when falling from a ladder on to a concrete patio at his Strood home.

He is still undergoing treatment at a specialist hospital in London and regularly takes painkillers.

Two operations at Medway Maritime Hospital to try and repair his smashed joint have failed.

He says he is now seeking compensation for the impact it has had on his life.

Medway Maritime says it has previously investigated his complaint.

The former lorry driver is now unable to work full-time and is on disability allowance.

His ordeal began when he fell about 18ft while carrying out DIY work to outside lights at the family home in Highland Close.

The accident happened on October 20, 1998 – a date he remembers because it was his son Scott’s second birthday.

"I never guessed that, 19 years later, I would still be in pain with a broken shoulder" - Mark Robinson

He was taken by ambulance to A&E and after being X-rayed was sent home.

He was told days later the three-break injury to his left shoulder was complex.

He would need to have a plate and pins inserted to knit the bones together.

However, a further X-ray revealed the operation had not worked.

The bones had not “reunited” and he would need further surgery.

At that point, the 57-year-old, who is married to Kerry, 54, was told to keep his arm in a sling for eight weeks and rest at home.

He said: “I did have physio for a while, but basically was told there was nothing more they could do and just get on with it.

“I thought eight weeks, that’s OK.

“But I never guessed that, 19 years later, I would still be in pain with a broken shoulder.”

Mr Robinson was referred by his GP to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore where he has been receiving treatment for the last six months.

He said: “It has had a big impact, not just on my life but that of my family.

“I used to be quite fit and active. I have to learn to do things with my right hand, like shaving, rather than with my left.

“It’s very frustrating to be suffering after all this time from what was an accident.”

Mr Robinson has since been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a condition which can affect the brain and or spinal cord.

Lesley Dwyer, chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are aware of Mr Robinson’s concerns which have been responded to and investigated.

“We have had correspondence with him on numerous occasions since he first contacted us with his concerns.

“We always aim to provide the highest level of care for our patients and we are sorry Mr Robinson remains concerned about the care he received in 1998.”